Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-07
Why the Signal Corps Should be
Transferred.

To the Editor Of THE EVENING STAR:
have read "X. Y. rs" article "Opposed to the
Transfer" In your Saturdays edition with amaze
ment and pity. How an "of1icer OF the corps
signdP' can state in public print that majority
OF the observers are opposed to transfer when it
goes without saying that the enlisted men of the
signal corps are working as unit to induce Con-
greSs to make them civilians, is beyond my ken.
Military discipline is not necessary with the
class to which the members Of the signal corps
belong, being as they are largely selected from the
young men OF our land who have graduated with
honor from our colleges and high schools,
The men feel that if they were placed in the
agricultural department they would be under the
wing Of the civil service, and their positions would
around as soldiers. Their pay would be at least
as great as now, and probably in a few years
much larger, as under civil organization the bu-
reau could be more efficiently administered on
One-half OF what 1t costs under the War depart
ment, thus leaving a balance to increase the pay
OF those who earned more than they were receiy.
ing. To say that discipline is needed and that this
discipline is never felt by the good menfs not true
The officers Of this corps have been promoted
from the ranks OF the men and consequently are
not superior to them either in intelligence or edu-
cation. They have as rule fairly earned their
shoulder straps by competition while Sergeants,
and are entitled to them.
This controversy between the Officers and men
OF the corps is the result of the efforts OF few
persons to keep the corps In the army contrary to
the expressed wishes Of the JOINT commission Of
OF War and the President OF the United States;
while on the other hand the enlisted men want
the corps transferred to a civil department where
they will have some inducement to work for the
service. HOW can you expect intelligent men to
be satisfied in bureauwhere the military gradings
of the clerks are such that the man until recently
in charge OF a few messengers, who can hardly
write his own name, and whose duty 1t was to ride
around town delivering maps and reports received
more pay than any OF the chief clerks OF divisions
and more than the acting chief clerk Of the Office
and where messengers and valuable clerks receive
equal pay. In thus same office there are now men
on duty who nave faithfully performed most i'm
pOrtant work for eight or even ten years without
any promotion or chance Of advancement and who
now receive nearly twenty dollars per month less
than the man In charge OF the messengers Just re-
TO say that military discipline is necessary to
special river observers, our 100 dispiay-men, our
l5O cotton region observers, all OF whom are
civilians and whose compensation is either 20 or
25 cents per day, and also that numerous vol
untary observers, who take their observation
without any compensation, neglect their duties.
railroads and telegraph systems and other large
corporations consider the Intervention OF military
discipline necessary for the proper transaction OF
their buS1neSS7 think not. maintain that not
only Is the change we ask desirable In the inter-
ests OF economy and because the enlisted men are
better service and more accurate observations and
reports. At present when an observer misses an
observation he as q rule does not dare to report
the TACT, put manufactures false observation or
claims TO be sick and sends for doctor at the ex-
penSe OF the United States. Under civil admins
trata0n tho same man would report and explain
any such neglect without Justification.
The fact that the enlisted men OF the signal
corps are earnestly working for transfer to a
ctvn basis cannot be ignored or denied by 'eX. Y.
T." OF the 'corps signal" or any one else, as the
thing is too patent to every one. On the other
hand, we DO not wish to antagonize the heuten-
ants OF the corps. II they want q transfer to the
line OF the army we shall be pleased to see them
get it II they want to go with us to the new de-
Partment we say welcome; but don't gentlemen,
In your efforts to secure the legislation you are
seeking misrepresent Ossr sentimentA We are for
. transfer hrst, last and all the time.
Suggesting that 'X. Y. T." keep posted In the
current literature OF the day and not again permit
any one 70 50 mtslead him as to the wishes OF the
men over whom he has control, am very respect
fully, CORPORAL BLANK.